Rotary water-meter



m Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1. B. PITTS & J. F. WILSON.

ROTARY WATER METER.

N0. 267,174. Patented NOV. 7, 1882.

N. PETERS Fh nhrlilhngmphen Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENAIAH FITTS AND JAMES F. WILSON, ()F VVORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY WATQER-METER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 267,174, dated November 7, 1882,

Application filed June 5,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, BENAIAH FITTS and JAMES F. WILSON, both of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Meters and we declare the following to be a description of our said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exject to rapid deterioration and derangement by reason of wear. We attain these objects by mechanism constructed and organized for operation substantially as shown and described, the particular features claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents aplan view of our improved rotary meter. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view at line 00 00, Fig.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view atline y y, and Fig.4 is a vertical sectional view at line 22. The body of the meter consists of a cylinder or casing, A, provided with ends or heads A" A properly bolted or otherwise secured thereto. Said heads are made with annular internal chambers or passages, W, and are furnished with suitable nipples or hollow bosses, a c, for the connection of the supply and delivery pipes.

Within the cylinder A, and concentric there- I with, is an internally-toothed ring or gearpiece, 0, having inward-projecting cogs or ribs 0 for engaging or meshing with the cogs or blades d, on a star-wheel or revolving piston, D, that is located within the ring 0 and adapted to revolve about a journal or axis eccentric to the ring, and arranged for rotating about the main central axis of the cylinder or shell. The piston-wheel D and ring 0 are so proportioned, and their cogs c and d are so fitted, that the parts roll upon each other in the manner fof toothed gears, the relative size of the piston and its degree of eccentricity being such that while the teeth or cogs c and 01 mesh closely at one side a considerable space is left between their extremities at the opposite side or at the point of their greatest eccentricity. A barrier or partition, F, is arranged between the parts within this space, which is of such size and form as will separate the space into two chambers, E and G, and cut off or prevent the fiow of liquid from one chamber to the other, except such as may be conveyed between the respective cogs or teeth 0 d. The outer and inner surfaces of the partition are made to conform to the respective curves or circles of motion of the piston D and ring-gear C, so that as the parts move past each other the extremities of the cogs form a closejunction with the surfaces of the partition F. The ends of the partition F are supported by plates or revoluble disks H, fitted within and forming the internal facings of the head A A and against which the squared ends of the piston D and ring 0 have bearings, as illustrated. A bolt or rod,f, connects the two plates H and passes through the center of the piston D, forming the axial hearing about which said piston revolves. The plates H are fitted to the heads A A with studs or axial journals h, located concentric with the axis of the c linder and ring 0, so as to form a support for the partition F and piston-axle f, which rotates within the cylinder, While retaining said partition F and piston D in proper relative position as regards'each other and the gear-ring O, and to permit the piston, as itrevolves, to travel around theinner circle of the ring 0, the piston and partition moving in the directions indicated by the arrows 011 Fig. 3. The cogs d of the piston, by meshing with the cogs c of the ring 0 at one side, close the passage against the escape of the fluid, water, or steam at that point, while the partition F, arms cl of the piston D, and cogs 0 of the ring U serve to separate the chambers E and G at the opposite point, as illustrated, so that passage of liquid from chamber E to chamber Geffects the revolution of the piston D.

The barrier or partition F is in the present instance formed hollow or with internal conduits, I and J, and serves as'a mouthpiece for conducting the fluid into and from the respective chambers E and G, suitable opening being provided through the plates into the con' duits I and J, as illustrated. Small depressions or channels mare formed in the plate H,

as indicated, to relieve the pressure in the recesses between the parts 0 and D, and prevent the fluid from obstructing the movement of the piston by close confinement between the intermeshing cogs or teeth.

The month i of the inlet-conduit I may be directed backward toward the cogs of the piston, so that the impact of the fluid will correspond with the direction of movement of the piston D, and its reactive force will be exerted in the direction of the movement of the partition or mouth-piece F. The division between the conduits I and J may be inclined, as shown, so as to give large openings through the plates H without extending beyond the limits of the end area of the partitionl If desired, the barrier F could be formed solid, and the inlet and outlet passages to the chambers E and G could be formed through the casing or head-plates H at convenient position for entering the respective spaces or chambers E G; or the fluid may be taken in through the conduit I and permitted to pass out at any convenient position. We prefer,- however, the form shown.

The extremities of the blades or cogs c and (1 may be fitted with grooves n, as illustrated, to form water-packings when in conjunction with the piece F, for preventing leakage past the piston. If preferred, any other suitable form may be given to the cogs c and d in lieu of that herein shown.

A suitable registering mechanism of ordinary construction may be combined with the axle-stud h for indicating the quantity of fluid passed through the meter. Said register can be connected by an irregular-shaped spindle, S, titted in a corresponding-shaped opening in the end of the stud h, or in other suitable manner, as desired. A packing-ring, K, is arranged in the head A about the axle-stud h to prevent leakage at that point.

In the operation of the meter the fluid enters in the direction indicated by arrows, through the pipe to the annular chamber W, and from there passes through the conduit I and. mouth i into the chamber or space E, where its pressure, acting upon the piston I) at the position 0, forces the blade or cog d of the piston D past the side of the partition F, which permits the flowage or transfer of the fluid contained between the blades 01 to the chamber or space G, from which it escapes through the conduit J into the annular chamber W and passes out through the exit-opening. By this movement the piston D is caused to roll around the gear or ring 0, thereby effecting the revolution of the plates H H and partition, so that the movement of the plate-journal h is transmitted to the register, which records the number of revolutions in the ordinary manner; or, if the register is properly speeded and regulated to correspond with the capacity of the piston, or amount passed at each revolution of the piston, the quantity may be indicated on the register in gallons, cubic feet, or other desired unit of measure.

In the construction of the meter the ring U and cylinder A can, if desired, be formed integral or in a single piece, or be made separate and secured together in any suitable convenient manner. Then again, if desired, as a modification ofour invention,in lieu of making the partition F and axis-bearing of the piston to rotateor travel around the main axis of the apparatus, said parts may be confined to the cylinder, and the gear-ring 0 be made to revolve around the piston D and partition F. In such case the registering devices would be combined for operation with the ring 0 or the piston-axle, instead of the axle-stud h.

What we claim as of our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In ameter mechanism,a partition or bulkhead piece introduced between the eccentri cally-arranged piston and the surrounding cylinder or ring-gear, for separating the intermediate space into receiving and delivering chambers, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a meter, of an outer ring or cylinder having internally-arranged projections or cogs, an externally-toothed intermeshing piston mounted upon an axial support or journals eccentric to and revoluble about the main or central axis, and an intermediate barrier or partition adapted to move about the main axis in unison with the axial bearing of said'piston, snbstantially as herei-nbefore set forth.

3. The combination, with the ring-gear and intermeshing piston gear, of revoluble end plates concentrically journaled within the cylinder-heads, and adapted for supporting the partition or bulk-head piece and the pistonjournal, substantially as set forth.

4. The partition or barrier-piece F, constructed with one or more conduits orpassages, in combination with the cylinder-gear and revoluble piston, whereby said partition is adapted to serve as a mouth-piece for the entrance or exit of fluid to or from (either or both) the piston-chamber ot' the'meter, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination, with the cylinder-gear, revoluble piston, and revoluble end plates having conduits or openings to the piston-chambers, of the heads A A", provided with connecting-bosses a a, and having annular chambers W, whereby fluid can be taken and discharged irrespective of the varied positions of the internal revoluble parts, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the intermeshing cylinder-gear and piston-gear, of heads or end plates having the recesses or channels m, as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness our hands this 31st day of May, A. D. 1882.

BENAIAH FITTS. JAMES F. WILSON. 

